Cut backs affect cruise

Sail Date:
August 2009

Destination:
Europe - Eastern Mediterranean

Embarkation:
Rome (Civitavecchia)

This is our third cruise, all with RC. Our first cruise where the majority of the guests were Italian. This was not pleasant and not what we had expected - nothing against Italians. The ship was full and on sea days was extremely unpleasant. No sunbeds - all reserved at about 7am! Even though RC has a strict policy about reserving sunbeds - the deck patrol did nothing about it. We witnessed many arguments - people trying to take sunbeds with just towels on where no-one had been for hours! The tiny pool was bulging with people.

The windjammer buffet had great food but there was nowhere to sit most of the time. I suspect this was due to the fact that the huge Italian families spent hours in there having one of the many loud and long arguments. The OJ is watered down and food runs out about 20 mins before the stated closure time. The food and service in the main Romeo and Juliet restaurant was excellent.

Due to cut backs there were some aspects we were expecting but More
did not get. There is no longer a midnight chocolate buffet. There is no longer a midnight buffet in the main restaurant - just one by the pool which strangely has packed up by midnight. Napkins are not folded into interesting things on the table any more, and in the staterooms the towels are made into interesting animals only 2 or 3 times.

My youngest daughter, 9, does not like soda and the choice of drinks for her was limited. There is apple juice (watered down) for breakfast - other than that it's water at $6.50 a bottle.

Staterooms were very good, as usual. We had Grand suite 8012, our son had 3610 and great aunt 3612. The TV channels in the two lower rooms was very limited but we had more in the suite. The balcony in 8012 was the largest we have had and all 6 of us could be out there comfortably. Only downside was that right above us on deck 9 was where the late night buffet was, and was therefore noisy.

Onboard entertainment was poor. The RC singers and dancers were the worst we had seen - the three production shows were awful. The magician night was ok but the highlight was three guys singing motown called Horizon - they were so good we bought the $25 dvd!

My son who is 2 weeks away from being 21 was treated by the ships staff as a child - even though we signed the alcohol waiver. Interestingly my just 18 year old daughter was not. This was because the seapass my son had was white and everyone under 21 has the background showing youngsters in a grand suite the seapass cards are gold with no background!

The spa was excellent - we all had massages. Very high standard.

The Director of entertainment was awful - but he left the boat as we did so anyone getting on now wont get him. We did have a very good British host for some quizes etc.

The ships wi-fi internet is so slow you will need to spend your expensive allowance of minutes just to log on.

Cabin review: Legend of the Seas

Port and Shore Excursions

A really long, hot a tiring day. Overall worth it to see and touch the pyramids of Giza. Very tiring battling off the multiple requests from local people for money - even the police and security people. Everywhere is very dirty with huge amounts of rubbish everywhere you look - no street cleaners here! The road from Alexandria to Giza, just outside Cairo is long (2.5 hours) and straight but the tarmac is not flattened and the journey is very bumpy. If you have young children with you be advised to take travel sick bags. We were provided with a snack bag - crisps (chips), apple, banana, chocolate bar. Water and soda was available in the front fridge (we ran out so make sure you get yours)and there was a toilet on board. The guides are very "on message" from their government - that said, they are all very highly trained in history of Egypt. The best prices for souvenirs were in the shops just outside the port! Air con on the bus was very good, outside temperatures reach highest about 2pm - take a hat and wear sunscreen - stand in the shade where ever possible, that said, most is in the desert!

We took a tour showing local sites and then dropped us near the Acropolis. Overall, would recommend taking a taxi and walking yourself up. The journey up is over uneven stairs, sheer edges, and is packed with people ignoring the exit route and coming down the way up! Once up, outstanding views of Athens.

Pireaus - near Ephesus (could not find on port drop down!). Loved Turkey, so much better than we imagined, nice people, pretty scenary. We went to the house of the Virgin Mary - very moving. And then to Ephesus a huge city from early AD.